Mechanical and physical properties of carbon–graphite fiber-reinforced polymers intended for implant suprastructures

Composite resin reinforced with silk nanoparticles from Bombyx mori cocoon for dental applications

The objective of this work was to evaluate the mechanical performance of Z350 resin composite modified with Bombyx mori cocoons silk nanoparticles for dental applications. Four experimental groups were analyzed G0% = Filtek Z350 resin composite (control); G1% = Filtek Z350 with 1% of silk nanoparticles; G3% = Filtek Z350 with 3% of silk nanoparticles; G5% = Filtek Z350 with 5% of silk nanoparticles. It was employed scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, 3-point flexural strength test, Knoop hardness test, and surface roughness. From 3-point flexural strength tests the control group presented the best results G0% = 113.33 MPa (±23.73). The higher flexural modulus was shown by groups G3% = 29.150 GPa (±5.191) and G5% = 34.101 GPa (±7.940), which are statistically similar. The Knoop microhardness test has shown statistical difference only among the G3% group between the top 80.78 (± 3.00) and bottom 68.80 (±3.62) and no difference between the groups. The roughness test presented no statistical difference between the groups. The incorporation of silk nanoparticles reduced the flexural strength of Z350 resin composite. The surface roughness and microhardness tests showed no changes in any of the groups studied.

Fracture resistance of cantilevered full-arch implant-supported hybrid prostheses with carbon fiber frameworks after thermal cycling

OBJECTIVES

This in vitro study aimed to find the best combination of mesostructure and veneering materials for full-arch implant-supported hybrid prostheses (HPs) in terms of the fracture resistance (FR) of their cantilevers.

METHODS

Three groups (n = 5 each) of maxillary HPs were fabricated: Group-1 (CC-A, control): Co-Cr frameworks coated with acrylic resin; Group-2 (CF-A): carbon fiber veneered with acrylic resin; and Group-3 (CF-R): carbon fiber coated with composite resin. All specimens were submitted to 5,000 thermal cycles (5 °C - 55 °C, dwell time: 30 s), and subjected to a single cantilever bending test in a universal testing machine (crosshead speed: 0.5 mm/min) until failure. The fracture pattern was assessed using stereo microscope and SEM. The one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni tests were run (α= 0.05).

RESULTS

The FR yielded significant differences among the three groups (p< 0.001). CC-A samples reached the highest FR values (p ≤ 0.001), whereas both CF-A and CF-R HPs exhibited the comparably (p = 0.107) lowest FR. CC-A specimens failed cohesively (100%): mostly without chipping (80%). CF-A mesostructures were always broken at the connections of the distal implants. CF-R prostheses often failed adhesively (80%).

CONCLUSIONS

The HPs made of Co-Cr veneered with acrylic demonstrated the best mechanical behavior, being the only group whose 13-mm long cantilevers exceeded the clinically acceptable FR of 900 N. The HPs constructed with carbon fiber frameworks showed, additionally, more unfavorable fracture patterns.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

For HPs with cantilevers up to 13 mm, Co-Cr mesostructures coated with acrylic may represent the optimum combination of materials.

Analysis of bond strength between a nylon reinforcement structure and dental resins

Background

Nylon is a polymer that its use to reinforce dental resins has shown positive results such as increased flexural strength. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bond strength between dental resins and a nylon reinforcement.

Material and Methods

Forty cylindrical nylon blocks with 13 x 23 mm with 0.5% by volume of silica and 40 without were made. Half of the samples of each nylon composition were sandblasted with aluminum oxide (50μm) for 3 s (2.8 bar pressure, distance: 20 mm, incidence angle: 90o). On the nylon blocks, cylinders of chemically activated acrylic resin and indirect composite resin were made, with a bonding area of 6,28 mm2. Eight different groups were obtained according to the material used and the surface treatment (n = 10): Acrylic Resin + Nylon; GAS: Acrylic Resin + Nylon with Silica; GAT: Acrylic Resin + Nylon (Al2O3); GAST: Acrylic Resin + Nylon with Silica (Al2O3); GC: Composite Resin + Nylon; GCS: Composite Resin + Nylon with Silica; GCT: Composite Resin + Nylon (Al2O3); GCST: Composite Resin + Nylon with Silica (Al2O3). The shear test was carried out. The Student’s and the Kruskal-Wallis test was adopted.

Results

There was no statistically difference in the bond strength for nylon with silica for the acrylic resin group. For the composite groups, nylon with silica did not present a statistically difference without surface treatment (p = 0.10) and with surface treatment the bond strength decreased (p = 0.000). The GCT showed a higher bond strength (0.89 MPa). The surface treatment improved the bond strength for the both groups.

Conclusions

The presence of silica in the nylon composition did not influence the bond strength between materials evaluated. However, the surface treatment with aluminum oxide proved to be favorable for this adhesion.

Key words:Nylons - Resins, Synthetic - Structures Strengthening - Dental Research.

Comparative In Vitro Study of the Bond Strength of Composite to Carbon Fiber Versus Ceramic to Cobalt-Chromium Alloys Frameworks for Fixed Dental Prostheses

Purpose: The aim of this comparative in vitro study was to assess the bond strength and mechanical failure of carbon-fiber-reinforced composites against cobalt–chrome structures with ceramic veneering. Materials and methods: A total of 24 specimens (12 per group) simulating dental prosthetic frameworks were fabricated. The experimental specimens were subjected to a thermocycling aging process and to evaluate bond strength. All specimens were subjected to a three-point bending test to fracture using a universal testing machine. Results: The cobalt–chrome/ceramic group yielded a bond strength value of 21.71 ± 2.16 MPa, while the carbon-fiber-reinforced composite group showed 14.50 ± 3.50 MPa. The failure assessment reported statistical significance between groups. Although carbon-fiber-reinforced composite group showed lower bond strength values, the chipping incidence in this group was as well lower. Conclusions: The chrome–cobalt/ceramic group showed greater bonding strength compared to the carbon-fiber-reinforced composite; most of the fractures within the cobalt–chrome/ceramic group, had no possibility of direct clinical repair.

The effect of glass and polyethylene fiber reinforcement on flexural strength of provisional restorative resins: an in vitro study

The aim is to evaluate and compare the flexural strength of different provisional restorative materials reinforced with glass and polyethylene fibers. A total of 90 samples were prepared and divided into three groups based on the type of fiber reinforcement, unidirectional S-glass (Splint-It) and ultra-molecular weight polyethylene (Ribbond). Unreinforced samples served as control group. Again each group was subdivided into three subgroups based on type of provisional restorative resins, heats cure polymethyl methacrylate, self-cure poly methyl methacrylate and self-cure bis-acryl composite. Samples were loaded in a universal testing machine until fracture occurs. The mean flexural strengths (MPa) were subjected to the one-way ANOVA, followed by the Tukey-HSD test at a significance level of 0.001. The result shows all the fiber reinforced samples possessed greater strength than the control samples. In control samples, the heat cure poly methyl methacrylate resin (72.74 ± 2.28 MPa) had the greatest flexural strength, followed by self-cure bis-acryl composite (67.05 ± 2.35 MPa) and self-cure poly methyl methacrylate resin (52.88 ± 1.90 MPa). In both heat and self-cure poly methyl methacrylate resin, the polyethylene fiber reinforcement (96.00 ± 2.63 MPa, 86.17 ± 1.92 MPa) provides the greatest strength than glass fiber reinforcement (92.68 ± 1.58 MPa, 76.40 ± 2.11 MPa). In self-cure bis-acryl composite, the glass fiber (105.95 ± 3.07 MPa) shows better reinforcement than polyethylene fiber (99.41 ± 1.74 MPa).The fibers reinforcement increases the flexural strength of provisional restorative resins.

Adhesion properties in systems of laminated pigmented polymers, carbon-graphite fiber composite framework and titanium surfaces in implant suprastructures

OBJECTIVE

For long-term stability the adhering interfaces of an implant-retained supraconstruction of titanium/carbon-graphite fiber-reinforced (CGFR) polymer/opaquer layer/denture base polymer/denture teeth must function as a unity. The aim was to evaluate adhesion of CGFR polymer to a titanium surface or CGFR polymer to two different opaquer layers/with two denture base polymers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Titanium plates were surface-treated and silanized and combined with a bolt of CGFR polymer or denture base polymer (Probase Hot). Heat-polymerized plates of CGFR polymer (47 wt% fiber) based on poly(methyl methacrylate) and a copolymer matrix were treated with an opaquer (Sinfony or Ropak) before a denture base polymer bolt was attached (Probase Hot or Lucitone 199). All specimens were heat-polymerized, water saturated (200 days) and thermally cycled (5000 cycles, 5/55 degrees C) before shear bond testing.

RESULTS

Silicatized titanium surfaces gave higher bond strength to CGFR polymer (16.2+/-2.34 and 18.6+/-1.32) MPa and cohesive fracture than a sandblasted surface (5.9+/-2.11) MPa where the fracture was adhesive. The opaquer Sinfony gave higher adhesion values and mainly cohesive fractures than the opaquer Ropak. Different surface treatments (roughened or polished) of the CGFR polymer had no effect on bond strength.

SIGNIFICANCE

The fracture surfaces of silicatized titanium/CGFR polymer/opaquer layer (Sinfony)/denture base polymers were mainly cohesive. A combination of these materials in an implant-retained supraconstruction is promising for in vivo evaluation.

Influence of thermal cycling on flexural properties of composites reinforced with unidirectional silica-glass fibers

OBJECTIVES

The purpose was to investigate the effect of water storage and thermal cycling on the flexural properties of differently sized unidirectional fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs) containing different quantities of fibers. The effect of fiber orientation on the thermal expansion of FRCs as well as how the stresses in the composites can be affected was considered.

METHODS

An experimental polymeric base material was reinforced with silica-glass fibers. The cleaned and silanized fibers were sized with either linear PBMA-size or crosslinked PMMA-size. For the determination of flexural properties and water uptake, specimens were processed with various quantities of differently sized unidirectional fibers. Water uptake of FRC was measured. Water immersed specimens were thermally cycled for 500 and 12,000 cycles (5 degrees C/55 degrees C). Flexural properties of "dry" and wet specimens with and without thermal cycling were determined by a three-point bending test. The linear coefficients of thermal expansion (LCTE) for FRC samples with different fiber orientations were determined using a thermomechanical analyzer.

RESULTS

Water uptake of the FRC specimens increased with a decrease in fiber content of the FRC. Flexural properties of FRCs improved with increasing fiber content, whereas the flexural properties were not influenced significantly by water and thermal cycling. Fiber orientation had different effects on LCTE of FRCs. Unidirectional FRCs had two different LCTE in longitudinal and transverse directions whereas bidirectional FRCs had similar LCTE in two directions and a higher one in the third direction.

SIGNIFICANCE

The results of the study suggest that the surface-treated unidirectional silica-glass FRC can be used for long-term clinical applications in the oral cavity.